Display apparatus and method of operating the same



N031. 4, 1930. G. A. WEARHAM l 1,780,773

DISPLAY APPARATUS AND METHOD OF OPERATING THESAME Filed May 2l, 1929 Patented Nev. 4, 1930 rats ` UNT-E DISPLAY APPARATUS Annv METHOD OPY oPERATrNG'dTIVIE Application mea May 21, 1929, serial No. 364,855, nain `Great'Britainivray 23,1928.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in displaying matterA of various kinds, such as advertisements, picture, notices, articles of merchandise and th'e like (hereinafter referred to generally as display matter) of the type'wherein a container'that contains a liquid screen, such as an opaque milk-like liquid screen, has a wall, e. g. a glass wall,`

constituting a window through which the said screen is visible, the thickness of which screen is varied so as to change the appearr ance of the apparatus, as by rendering diskplay matter associated with the container 'I actuated automatically by thechanges in the rate of its speed of movement.

According to an important feature ofithe invention, a method of-operating display apparatus ofthe type described consists in varying the `thickness of the liquid screen,

\ for example reducing it to Zero, in the' container under the action ofthe inertia of a movable mass, such as a weight, associated with the container. l l

According to another important feature of the invention, there is provided apparatus of the type described, wherein the thickness of the liquid screen is varied, for example reduced to Zero, Yunder theinfluence' of he inertia of a movable'mass, such'v as a weight, that is associated with the container and is arranged to move bodily in relation thereto or a part thereof, and displace liquid in the container in order to change the 'appearance of the apparatus. l

According to, another feature of the'invention, the movable mass is dlsplaceable in the v liquid in the container, for example is resiliently supported therein,` andis arranged,

when moving under the action of its inertia,

forms. z

Y parts in the severalviews.4

to move the display matter, which Vmay be carried bythe movable mass, towards` and away fromthe window. r l `According to 'yet another feature of the invention, the wall constituting the window vor the opposed wall ofthe. container isflexible and-the other is rigid, andthe/movable mass, such as afweight,'is-carried directly v by the flxible walljfor example at the middle thereo Y i According to a further feature ofthe in-l vention, the movable mass is in the form of, or

' constitutes,'a piston movable freely in a cylinder, and a conduity containing a fluid-,such as air, operatively connects the cylinder with the interior of the container orwith anactuating chamber associated therewith.y

Other featuresV of the invention will be ydescribed hereinafter and pointed `Out-in the claims. 1

Several forms of .apparatus Vaccordingfto therinvention and adapted for carryingv they described method into practicearel diagram- Y matically illustrated, by way of example, in

the accompanying drawing,wherein i Figure l is a diagrammatic vertical vtransverse section taken through'one from of 'display sign accordingto the invention,;and

Figures2, 3 and 4 are like views of modified Like reference 'characters designatev like Referring first to Figure 1, the display sign vconsists zof `a container comprising a v frame 10 of rectangular or other convenient shape having. at the front a transparenter translucent wall 11, for example of glass, constituting a window, and at the rear anoplposed wall .12 which may be, transparent, ltranslucent or opaque, and an opaque liquid completely or` partly filling thespace 13 be` tween these Opposed walls. A movable mass 1A inthe form of a plate-'shaped weight, e. g. of metal, is suspended as bysprings 15er 'by aflexible diaphragm or in anyiother conven- Aient manner in the liquid so as to be free to move to and fro between the middle portion ofthe two opposed walls 11, 12. f This weight 14 carrieson its falce towards the window the display matterl, whichzmay bein the form *t l '560, 11 behind `Whichrthe:thickness of the liquid ample it may be, embossed, engraved, printed,

of yielding material, suchl rubber,shaped to form letters for example,` and adapted to bedtightly againstthewindovv 11. Alternatively, the display matter may be paintedV or otherwise applied S,to `the Weight, for eX- stamped,.st encilled or photographed thereon. A mount 17, of cardboard orrorther convenient m-aterial,. for example paint, may? be ar- "Ykranged around ythe'marginal-1portionof the Window 11, leither;insidethelatter-as shown,

' or outside,;in'order to obscurefrom vievv the liquid surroundigfthe "displayY matter and the suspensionlimeansofthe Weight-1.4;

,. yWhen such "a display Vsign is mounted ion. aV

-.f mov;able support-,such as animator-driven vehicle, facing in the -directionoff travel'` of the vehicle or inthe'ropposite direction, and

display matter :being varied andiatftimes re-w duced to Zero.V f

If desired the? rear -Wall y-12 of vthe display Vsignv'may alsobetransparentfor translucent, `30

' and Adisplay. matter tmay be 5 carried on? both vide' adouble-acting sign;l Alsothewvei'ght A14 itself may beftr-'ansparent,1e.,y of glass,

Y ian-dv'then theY` display matter may be on its .-rearface. VThe opaque liquid 'may befmilk- .-1

jlike, :black or 'coloured `:any f desired tint.

V.-Alternatively,.a coloured or tintedftranspa'rent :liquidi may be used, 1in `-Which case `its n Vscolourmaycontrast with, vtor-example :be

complementary` to, the 'colour 'of'pthe idisplay Y jmatter.

y 'f orbothf o'" the said "opposed Walls "of thesignfmay be"leXible,-tand amovablemass :may be 'mounted on either or bothyolsuch Y flexible walls. Figure 2 Y shows' suchr-alzcon- .struction of display sign, SAWhen-iin the-rear lWall is constituted'by! alexiblediaphragm 2 0.

' of celluloid, metal "or otherconvenient .ma-V

terial, Whereofthezmarginalzportionds*preferablyy corrugated, 'asg-atf21, to :enhance its flexibility. Thevveight 14 maybe; mounted in anyfconvenientflposition on thisi'diaphragm either inside'or outside thecontainer. `Vhen outside the Vsame .the displayimatter Amay be 'v Y onf'theinner face 'of the'di-aphragmgfas shown *at 16, but-When the diaphragm is transparent the display lI'natter may be*v at any-convenient positionA outsideTthefcontainer'so v`as tolle visible through that portionof the -rWin-dow screen lis varied-or redr-.ced tozero Y,by the phragm will bulgey outivards to accommodate the liquid displaced from in front of the Weight. 'If desired, however, a storage compartment 22 that opensinto the space `16 may be provided at any convenient'part-0I" the container for accommodating the dishave a filling plug`23 and may contain a source of light 24, such as an electric lamp,v Y arrangedto illuminate the liquid, or boththe liquid and thedisplay'ma'tter, in the space '13.

. When the diaphragm 20 istransparent or.l

kplace-d liquid.. This compartmenty22 may VY Y translucent, 'a 'sour'c'elof' light,suchV as elec-v 1 tric lamps,may bey yarranged behind l the container, as indicated at 25.` Y

- The v `Whole or 'partjof the play matter on 'the-firmer face thereof, .may

Wan 20,! or' fais-f kbe'coated'With aselfluminous`-comp'osition;v

Inorderto preventfthe liquid of=thesign y mountV .17,11it, imay @be larranged .behind the mount nearerY thetop fof thesign, fandyit Vmay have'a downwardlyidirectediextension .i 42in v the -fcrm of la 1flap that carries vvthe display Vmatter oppositexthe aperture-26 'so -as Y to be visible-through the-latter.. n 7 sidesofthemovableweight 14 so'asto pro- .Y v

`be mounted to "swing to Van'dfroiplil'realpen*` It desired, the' signs describedabove gmay dulum, on aiiXedormovablesupportfsofthat f varied at "the :end of 1 .leach swing.` g

tions of Adisplay signs fvvliereinpithe inertia of.` av Weightia-cts :not directlyfonthefliquid screen, but -throughfthe medium of fluid pressure .produced under the' .influence ofithe inertia of thefvveight. -fInFigure 3 a closed .actuating chamber designated generally 30 and containingfeitherafgas-orfliquidfis. ar-VV ranged behind the: diaphragmv20, and has-a rear flexible "Wall `3l-:carrying ja massive-V body 14 linthe'yformfof aimetal Weight.r`

liu

The -diaphragm 2O 4which have ther dis.-V v .play matter l16 .moulded on it is common to the container of the, liquidscreen and to' the* 'Y ;actuatingichamber30.. l.

InjFigure Lthe movable mass-.is a Vbody of ymercury 40'con`stitutingfa pi-ston'mov-l able freely in cylinderA Zl-l'finthe. form/ofv aY U.-tube, andjacon'duit 4:2{Whichfmay rco'ntainfgas or'a liquid servesto connectilthe f cylinder 41 :With the'upper' ,part of-a storage f 'chamberflf?)l that opensintoithe bottom-of theu'spacel orliquich -Inthis construc- 'tionv a Vback vboard4l, or third :sheetof transparent, translucent (5r-opaque material may be` arrangedbehind the diaphragm 20, f' either spaced away therefrom, as sliownfory Walls20`,44 Withfthe atmosphere so. asto al.-v

close' to it, a' vent-hole .ll'being :provided to connect theV s1g`3a'cell6V between-the two ,A #13u low the diaphragm. 2O to'flex. freelyunder Y container, if the weight is outside the latter,

will preferably be coloured or it may also carry some display matter. Also when the liquid is transparentV or translucent and tinted, the front face of the weight 14 or wall 2O may be coloured, and the Various colours may contrast with, or be complementary to, one another.

Any of the signs described above may be y provided in front of the window with a coloured screen of transparent material, such as Celluloid,4 as shown at 28 in Figures 1 and 4. Sucha screen may have a coating of paint 29 onits marginal portion to serve as a mount instead of or as well as th'e mount 17. j

Various modifications may be made in the details of construction described above without departing from the scope of the' invention as defined by the claims.

I claim. Y

1. A method of operating display appa-V ratus wherein a container that contains a liquid screen has a wall constituting a window through which the screen is visible, consisting in varying-theA thickness of the liquid screen in the container under the action of the inertia of a movable mass associated with the container.

2. A method of operating display apparatus 'wherein a container that contains a liquid screen has a wall constituting a window through which the screen is visible, consisting in varying the thickness of the liquid screen in the container under the action lof fluid pressure produced under the influence vof the inertia of a movable mass that isaesociated with the apparatus, so as to change l the appearance of display matter.

3. A method of operating display apparatus wherein a container has two opposed walls with a liquid screen between them, one of which walls constitutes a window through which the screen is visible, and at least one of which walls is flexible, consisting in flexing a flexible wall of the container towards and away from its opposed wall underv the action of fluid pressure produced under the iniuence of the inertia of a movable mass that is associated with the apparatus, and thereby varying the thickness of the liquid screen solas to lchange the appearance of the apparatus. Y

.4. Display apparatus comprising af containerhaving one wall constituting a win` v dow, and liquid constituting a screen situatedv in the container so as to be' visible through the window, in combination with a movable mass that is associated withthe `containerand is arranged to move bodily under the influence of inertia in relation to a part of the container and thereby vary' the thick-` ness of the liquid screen.

5. Display apparatus comprising'a container having two opposed walls Aand a liquid screen between them, one of which Walls .constitutes awindow, and at least one-.of

which walls -is flexible and movable towards and away fromitheother wall, in combinationl` with a movable mass that is movable bodily under the influence of inertia carried bythe flexible wall. l c

6. Indisplay apparatus of the` character described`,va container `having two opposed walls'spaced apart, a liquid screenbetween said walls, one of which walls constitutes a window, and one. of which` walls is flexible and movable towardsand away1froni'the other wall, a weight movableunder the influence of inertia carried by the flexible wall, and a storage :compartment for liquid openinginto the space-between said walls.

1 Display apparatus comprising Vin combination a container whereof :one wall constitutes a windowfand'- an opposed. wall is movable towards and away therefrom, a liquid screen in thecontainerbetweenthe opposed walls, an actuating chamber operable by fluid lpressurearranged tomove said movable f wall Vtowards and away ,from the winence of inertia arranged -to `vary the liuid pressure in said actuating chamber.

8; Display apparatus :comprising `in ,combination a container whereof one .wall cony -stitutes a` window, and an opposedwall is movable towards land away therefrom, ali quid screen-betweenthe' opposed walls, an acried by kthe latter wall.

dow,` and a` mass movableunder theginflu- 9. Displayapparatus comprising in comh bination a container having onewall constituting a window, liquid constituting a screen situatedin the container so as "to be visible',y

through the v'.window', and a movable mass that is displaceable Jin thejliquid under the influence of linertia towards andjaway from the window, andfis so ,associated wit-h display matter thatjthe latter movable with` saidmass.p .A .`1. y

10'. Display.y pparatus comprisingin combination `a container having twoopposed walls and a liquid screen between them, one yof which walls constitutes a windowandatl `-leastonefisfhich Walls islvmouablelto-Wards screen,' Whioh'mass `has`yassdeiated :Withit .and away Vfrom'fthe Vz other Wall, a movable display matter thatis movabletvlth itffand ma's'sfthatisassociatedwith,the container and isvisiblethroughsaid Window. Y 'sis arranged to"move `bodilyunder the. `in# In testimony WhereoffI .atlX my signature Yfluence oi' inertia" inerelatio'n to the container Yand thereby :Vary the thickness of :the liquid Y 's`oreen, both 'ofWhichfwallsjatopposite sides offSaidpsoreen.aretranslucent describedQ-iia Vcontainer fhaving two. f'jplzic'isedl*V f g Wallsfspaced'apartya liquid sereenbet-Ween r'said Walls,f'one1,of',wl1ich Walls has amarginal portion thereofl corrugatedfso as to fren'der' it movable 'towards and away from y -theopposedwallyand amovable massthat` i :iszassociateol Withthe 'container and is arf ranged 4tofinove .bodilyunder the influence athereby flex said v`'corrugated Wall' and move 'l' i .i l if e itJto'W-ards and. away from the opposell-Wall; f 112:.,Display kapparatuscomprising in1com GoRDoNAUGUsTUs -WEARHAM.

11'. In displayapparatusfofthe character of inertia in relation tothecontiner and '.Vbination "a container y havingv one .'Walloon-k Ustituting' fa Window, liquid constituting a x screen lqsituated in ,the-container so as t0 be g visible'through'thewindow,v a movablemass vthatz'is associated'Witlithefcontainer and is Y Vsarran-gedeto-m`ove bodily under the inuence V'loinationcafcontainer haying Vone Wall consti- ``tutin'g .a'W1n`do`W, liquid constitutingv .a screen `said screen.:

of inertia in 'relation' to Tthe 1 container and V said a container' and 'arranged vrto illuminate '1A i13. Display apparatus'ieomnprising in coini' Y u:situated inthe container soias to bevisible f 'y through the Windowa mov-ahlemass that is associated'withfthe Ycontaineriand is arranged the thickness ofltli'ey liquid screen, Vat 4least to, moyebcdil-y u n'der' the influence o fj'inertia inlrelation `to the container andtherehyivary para fxof the inner facef ofthe Wauu of the container ojopSdftofthefviindoiivbeing"eoat-v f redityitha selig-luminouscomposition;I Y Si" y.14splsplay;apparatus'` comprising in ,com`r binatlona container having one vrvLall constil tilting aivindow', 'liquidthateontainsfan in- Y ,.gredien't :ffOrfV lowering'V the' fre-Yezing `point v y 250' thereof'.Cllstitutingascreen situated'in'the j;

leont'ainc'ar so as tof-he visible through the ,'Windomand ai, movable massfthatfis fasso'- `thethickness of thezliquid screen.

`, laeDisplayapparatus Comprisingi` incom- A'ciated :with .the container and is arrangedfto move Lbodily under the influence fof vrinertia fn'irelation tothe container.

thereby 'Vary l s "abination .-a',containerhavingV onefWalloonsti-V t that 'i'sasNsocia'ted ,With the-*Container and is arranged to move'loodily underrtlhe influence y offinertiafin'relation to the Container and Y v5thereby ilary tliethickness `'of theV 'liquid v 'i l n '/"tutin'gfffa Window', andliquid constituting a I screenlsitu'ated vin the -container'so "as to he j Yisibletlirough the Window, a movable mass 

